Hamilton, David Dickerson

After a brief illness, David Dickerson Hamilton died at his home in Nashville, Tenn., on the morning of May 11, 1922, the fifty-seventh anniversary of his return from the war of the sixties.

"Dick" Hamilton, as he was affectionately known by his friends, was born in Davidson County, July 24, 1842. He was one of twelve children of Eleazer and Emily Perry Hamilton, of whom only the youngest brother, Tolbert F. Hamilton, of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., survives him.

He enlisted in Sumner County, Tenn., May 22, 1861, with three of his brothers—Joseph Porter, Eleazer Dent, and John Hall Hamilton —as members of Company H, 7th Tennessee Regiment, Archer's Brigade, and all fought through the entire four years except Dent Hamilton, who was transferred to another company, was taken prisoner, and died in Camp Chase.
Dick Hamilton was severely wounded in the head and shoulder at the battle of Seven Pines, and again at Petersburg, Va. He was mustered out at Augusta, Ga., May 1, 1865, and made his way home on crutches, walking part of the way. Being told that all who came to Nashville were to be forced to take the oath of allegiance, he slipped from the train at Lavergne, borrowed a horse from a friend, and went across the country to his home near Stewart's Ferry, twelve miles east of Nashville, where he found his family mourning for him as dead. For several years after the war he used crutches.
He was for thirty years or more a teacher in the schools of Davidson County, Tennessee. In 1870 he was married to
Miss Margaret Amanda Page, who survives him, with two daughters and four sons.

His friendliness and good humor won for him a place in the hearts of all who knew him. He had a vivid recollection of his war experiences and delighted in narrating amusing incidents of soldier life. For fifty-five years he was a member of the Christian Church.